Mine stopping

ABSTRACT

A mine stopping installed in a mine passageway includes a rigid wall extending across the passageway to close the passageway. The wall includes a first wall section extending from one side of the passageway at a first angle and a second wall section extending from an opposite side of the passageway at an oblique angle relative to the opposite side such that the wall sections are arranged in a non-coplanar, non-parallel relationship with respect to one another. A method of installation is also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/711,656 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,906), filed Nov. 13, 2000,which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/188,918(now U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,871), filed Nov. 9, 1998. U.S. patentapplication Ser. Nos. 09/711,656 and 09/188,918 are incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to mine ventilation and, moreparticularly, to mine doors and mine stoppings.

[0003] So-called “stoppings” are widely used in mines to stop off theflow of air in passageways in the mines, a “stopping” generally being amasonry (e.g., concrete block) or metal wall installed at the entranceof a passageway to block flow of air therethrough. Such stoppings aretypically provided with a doorway or opening and a door therein foroccasional access to the blocked-off passageway. This arrangement issatisfactory under usual conditions when the stopping should prevent thepassage of air through the passageway. In some conditions, however, highpressure concussive air is forced against the stopping and door. Thismay occur, for instance, in longwall mining where a large roof cancollapse very rapidly and displace a large amount of air, therebycreating a shock wave of high pressure concussive air. Likewise, a mineblast will also force high pressure concussive air against the stoppingand the door. In conventional stopping arrangements, the concussive aircannot escape through the stopping without causing significant damage tothe stopping, the door or both.

[0004] Moreover, prior art stoppings are constructed generallyperpendicular to the direction of air flow through the passageway. Thisconstruction is not optimal for decreasing the stress on the stoppingcaused by the concussive air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Among the several objects and features of the present inventionmay be noted the provision of an improved mine stopping having a doorwhich seals an opening in the stopping; the provision of such a stoppingwherein the door can swing open in either of two directions to avoiddamage to the stopping due, for example, to concussive air generated bylongwall mining or by a mine blast; and the provision of such a stoppingwhich is effective in controlling mine ventilation.

[0006] Further among the several objects and features of the presentinvention may be noted the provision of a mine stopping which may beinstalled in a mine passageway so as to reduce dynamic air pressureexerted on the stopping; the provision of such a mine stopping which isless likely to be damaged by concussive air; and the provision of such amine stopping which is effective in controlling mine ventilation andwhich is economical to manufacture.

[0007] Briefly, the present invention is directed to a mine stoppinginstalled in a mine passageway and comprising a rigid wall extendingacross the passageway to close the passageway. The wall comprises afirst wall section extending from one side of the passageway at a firstangle and a second wall section extending from an opposite side of thepassageway at an oblique angle relative to the opposite side such thatthe wall sections are arranged in a non-coplanar, non-parallelrelationship with respect to one another.

[0008] Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method ofinstalling a stopping in a mine. The stopping comprises a plurality ofelongate extensible panels adapted to extend from a floor to a roof of apassageway in the mine. Each panel comprises a lower panel memberadapted for engagement of its lower end with the floor and an upperpanel member adapted for engagement of its upper end with the roof. Themethod comprises positioning a first of said extensible panels at afirst angle relative to sides of the passageway and positioning a secondof said extensible panels at a second angle relative to sides of thepassageway. The upper end of the upper panel member of said panels isforced into engagement with the roof and the lower end of the lowerpanel member of said panels is forced into engagement with the floor. Atleast one of said first and second angles is oblique with respect to thesides of the passageway.

[0009] Other objects and features of the present invention will be inpart apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a mine stopping of the presentinvention having a swinging door mounted thereon;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross section taken in the plane of line2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the door;

[0013]FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken in the plane ofline 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a side elevation showing the door in a first openposition with respect to a door frame, the door being shown in phantomlines in a second open position;

[0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of the swinging door with alocking bar mounted thereon;

[0016]FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken in the plane ofline 7-7 of FIG. 6;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross section like FIG. 2 showing a secondembodiment of the invention; and

[0018]FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross section like FIG. 2 showing a thirdembodiment of the invention;

[0019] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 show a sloped minestopping, generally designated 10, having a rigid wall 12 extendingacross a passageway 14 in a mine 15 to close the passageway, an opening16 in the wall, and a swinging door 18 for closing the opening. Theopening 16 is preferably defined by a rectangular door frame, generallydesignated 20. The door 18 is hinged adjacent the opening 16, the doorpreferably being hinged on the door frame 20. However, it iscontemplated that the door may be hinged directly on the wall 12. Thedoor frame 20 has opposing top and bottom horizontal frame members,designated 22 and 23, respectively, and two opposing vertical right andleft side frame members, designated 24 and 25, respectively. Thehorizontal and vertical frame members 22-25 may be formed from channelbar stock, for example. The door 18 includes a main panel portion 28,preferably formed from steel plate and reinforcing box beams 29extending along its bottom and vertical sides. The door also includes anupper portion 30 preferably formed by a separate steel strip secured,such as by welding, to the main portion. The upper portion 30 is shapedto form a sleeve 32 extending parallel to the top edge of the door forreceiving a horizontal hinge pin 34 which is secured to the top framemember 22. The door 18 is swingable on the hinge pin 34 relative to theframe 20 between a closed position (FIG. 4) engaging surfaces of theframe members 22-25 to inhibit the flow of air through the opening, afirst open position in which the door is swung in one direction awayfrom its closed position (FIG. 5), and a second open position in whichthe door is swung in an opposite direction away from its closed position(shown in phantom lines in FIG. 5). It is to be understood that otherhinge configurations for the door 18 may be used within the scope ofthis invention. For instance, while the door 18 is preferably hingedalong its top edge, it will be understood that the door may be hinged atits bottom or at one side.

[0021] Preferably, a seal 36, such as the rubber “D” seal shown in FIG.4, is attached to the reinforcing box beams 29 at the periphery of thedoor 18 for sealingly engaging the bottom frame member 23 and the rightand left side frame members 24, 25 of the frame 20 to seal against thepassage of air through the opening 16 when the door 18 is in its closedposition. A skirt 38 is attached to the main panel portion 28 at the topedge of the door 18 and extends substantially parallel to the top framemember 22 along substantially its full length. The skirt 38 ispreferably made of neoprene and is attached by a retainer in the form ofa steel channel 40 secured by screws 41 extending through the channel,skirt and into the door 18. As shown in FIG. 4, the skirt 38 is shapedto engage the top frame member 22 when the door 14 is in its closedposition to further seal the opening 16. Preferably, a right cornerpiece 42 and a left corner piece 43 are mounted on adjacent corners ofthe door 18 for frictional, sealing engagement with the frame 20. Asshown, the right and left corner pieces 42, 43 are attached, as byscrews 45, near the bottom corners of the door to engage the right andleft frame members 24, 25, respectively, and the bottom frame member 23.The right and left corner pieces 42, 43 help to seal the opening 16 atthe bottom corners where the seal 36 may leave gaps. The right and leftcorner pieces 42, 43 are preferably relatively stiff and are made ofthick rubber or other suitable material. The seal 36 and the cornerpieces 42, 43 frictionally engage the frame members 22-25 to hold thedoor 18 closed under most circumstances. When the door 18 is subjectedto substantial air pressure, such as concussive air from a mine blast orlongwalling cave-in, the air pressure will overcome the friction betweenthe seal 36 and corner pieces 42, 43 and the frame members 22-25 toforce the door to an open position. Moreover, the air pressure may forcethe door 18 to swing in either direction to its first or second openposition. The ability of the door 18 to swing in both directions isadvantageous. Whenever a large, abrupt air displacement occurs, such asoccurs in longwall mining or in a mine blast, there is an initialexpansion or push of concussive air in a direction away from thedisplacement, followed by a pulling of air in the opposite directiontoward the displacement as the low pressure on the displacement side ofthe stopping 10 is equalized with the higher pressure on the other sideof the stopping. The construction of the swinging door 18, as describedabove, allows the air flow caused by the displacement to pass throughthe opening 16 in both directions.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the mine stopping 10 preferablyincludes a mechanism for maintaining the door 18 in its closed position.In this embodiment, the mechanism includes an elongate locking bar 50releasably mounted on the door 18 in a locking position in which the barextends laterally beyond the door for engagement with the door frame 20to prevent the door from moving toward either of its first or secondopen positions. As shown in FIG. 5, the bar 50 is secured to both theright and left frame members 24, 25, although securement to only oneframe member is contemplated. Preferably, the locking bar 50 isremovably mounted on the door 18 by a plurality of generally U-shapedwire ties 52 (also referred to as twist clamps), each tie having a hook54 at each end engageable with a slot of a bracket 55 affixed to thedoor, and a central portion 56 adapted to be twisted so as to deform thewire tie around the bar to hold the bar in engagement with the door. Thebar 50 is similarly attached to the right and left frame members 24, 25by wire ties 52 engageable with slots (not shown) in the frame members,the arrangement operable to prevent the door from swinging in eitherdirection to an open position. The bar 50 is easily removable from itslocking position simply by removing the wire ties 52. It is to beunderstood that other mechanisms for maintaining the door closed may beused within the scope of this invention.

[0023] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the mine stopping 10 includesthe rigid wall 12 extending across the passageway 14. The wall 12preferably includes a first section 62 extending between the opening 16and one side of the passageway, and a second section 63 extendingbetween the opening and the opposite side of the passageway. At leastone of the two sections 62, 63 extends at an oblique angle A (see FIG.2) with respect to the direction of air flow through the passageway 14.In the preferred embodiment, both sections 62, 63 extend at an obliqueangle with respect to the direction of flow. It should be apparent thatthe direction of air flow is generally parallel to the walls of thepassageway 14 adjacent the stopping 10. Conventional prior stoppings areinstalled perpendicular to the flow of air, which causes the stopping toexperience the full amount of velocity pressure caused by the flow.(Note that static pressure is neglected in this discussion.) In thepresent invention, the angling of the wall 12 reduces the velocitypressure exerted against the stopping by a factor of the sine of theangle between the direction of flow and the wall. In the prior stoppingsmentioned above, the angle between the direction of flow and thestopping is generally 90°. Since the sine of 90° is 1, the velocitypressure has its full impact on the stopping. In the present invention,as an example, the wall 12 may be constructed such that the angle Abetween the direction of flow and the wall is, for instance, 45°. Sincethe sine of 45° is 0.707, the velocity pressure impact on the door wouldbe only 0.707 times the full velocity pressure.

[0024] The wall 12 may be constructed of a plurality of elongateextensible panels extending vertically in side-by-side relation from afloor to a roof of the passageway 14. The panels are preferablypositioned substantially in a plane at an oblique angle with respect tothe direction of air flow through the passageway 14. Installation ofsuch panels is described in U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,675, which isincorporated herein by reference, and suitable panels are available fromJack Kennedy Metal Products, Taylorville, Ill. The wall may also beconstructed of masonry blocks or other similar materials.

[0025] It is to be understood that the stopping 10 with angled wallsections 62, 63 may be constructed without a door or other structure toclose the opening 16. It should also be understood that the opening 16may be positioned immediately adjacent the passageway 14, i.e., the wall12 may consist of only one section extending from one side of thepassageway to an opening at the other side of the passageway, theopening being defined in part by the passageway and in part by thestopping 10.

[0026]FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment wherein the wall sections 162,163 are oriented more than ninety degrees relative to the direction ofair flow shown. However, as noted above, the direction of air flow in amine passageway 14 is reversible. Thus, the angled wall sections may beangled more than ninety degrees relative to one direction of air flow,and may be angled at less than ninety degrees to flow in the oppositedirection, but preferably the wall sections will generally be oblique tothe direction of air flow. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, the wallsections 162, 163 may be angled at a shallower angle than in the firstembodiment, such as about 30 degrees. The wall sections may also beangled at angles greater than those shown. The exact angle of the wallmay depend upon such factors as the expected direction of air flow, orthe length of the mine passageway in which the stopping is installed.The preferred angle for most stoppings is in the range of 40-50 degrees.

[0027] The sloped stopping 10 is advantageous as described above becauseit reduces the velocity pressure against the stopping. It is furtheradvantageous in that it directs the air flow more satisfactorily towardthe doorway or opening 16 in the stopping. This is accomplished becausethe sloped stopping acts as a funnel to direct the air flow toward theopening. This feature helps to improve the ventilation of the mine inthat it allows air to flow more rapidly and efficiently through thestopping.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 9, in a less preferred embodiment, the swingingdoor and frame 20 of the first embodiment is shown installed in aconventional stopping 212 having walls installed perpendicular to thedirection of air flow. Thus, the swinging door of this invention may beused advantageously in any mine stopping, and is not limited to use inthe angled stopping of this invention.

[0029] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects ofthe invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

[0030] As various changes could be made in the above constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mine stopping installed in a mine passagewaycomprises: a rigid wall extending across the passageway to close thepassageway, said wall comprising a first wall section extending from oneside of the passageway at a first angle and a second wall sectionextending from an opposite side of the passageway at an oblique anglerelative to the opposite side such that the wall sections are arrangedin a non-coplanar, non-parallel relationship with respect to oneanother.
 2. A mine stopping as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of saidfirst and second sections includes at least one elongate extensiblepanel extending vertically from a floor to a roof of the passageway. 3.A mine stopping as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a doorinstalled in an opening in the wall for swinging between a closedposition for inhibiting the passage of air therethrough and an openposition moved away from said closed position.
 4. A method of installinga stopping in a mine wherein the stopping comprises a plurality ofelongate extensible panels adapted to extend from a floor to a roof of apassageway in the mine, each panel comprising a lower panel memberadapted for engagement of its lower end with the floor and an upperpanel member adapted for engagement of its upper end with the roof, themethod comprising: positioning a first of said extensible panels at afirst angle relative to sides of the passageway, positioning a second ofsaid extensible panels at a second angle relative to sides of thepassageway, forcing the upper end of the upper panel member of saidpanels into engagement with the roof and the lower end of the lowerpanel member of said panels into engagement with the floor, wherein atleast one of said first and second angles is oblique with respect to thesides of the passageway.
 5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein theforcing step includes engaging an end of an extensible member of a jackwith the upper end of the upper panel member and extending theextensible member to effect relative telescopic extension of the upperand lower panel members thereby to force the upper end of the upperpanel member into pressure engagement with the roof.